The Los Angeles City Council Friday took steps to ensure safe potable drinking water for the city after two water sources within the San Fernando Valley tested positive for contaminants.
Council members voted 14-0 — with Council President Paul Krekorian absent during the vote — to instruct the Department of Water and Power to report back on the presence of these contaminants, known as PFAS, and provide information on testing and actions being undertaken.
The Bureau of Sanitation will also be tasked with providing details on the water it has treated, including stormwater, rainwater capture systems, and how the ONE Water LA 2040 plan is affected by contaminants.
The ONE Water plan is a roadmap for coordinating effective and sustainable long-term water planning solutions, including a distributed green infrastructure element aimed at improving stormwater management, according to LA Sanitation and Environment.
In April, council members Bob Blumenfield, Katy Yaroslavsky, Monica Rodriguez, Imelda Padilla and Krekorian introduced the motion, prompted by their concerns around the two contaminated water wells.
Last year, for the first time ever, DWP detected contaminants in two water sources located at the Pollock Well Field and at the Tujunga Well Field, according to council members’ motion. They were two non-operating wells within a “safe zone” identified by the federal government. These pollutants known as “forever chemicals” are said to be linked to a range of health issues, such as cancer, liver and heart damage, developmental issues with children, among others.
The Biden Administration and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency had previously announced the first ever legally enforceable drinking standards aimed at protecting Americans from PFAS. The rules allow cities to detect, treat and ensure PFAS and other substances are not seeping into water sources.
“The Department of Water and Power, the Bureau of Sanitation should ensure that testing wherever necessary and feasible within their respective systems for potable water, and infiltration into sewer and solid waste systems, is taking place and then report to council on ways the city can work with federal and state partners to ensure safe drinking water for all Angelenos,” the motion reads.